If you haven’t already heard in the media by now, Flint, Michigan is in the middle of what we’d like to call a serious water crisis. There is huge controversy and a debate on whether or not Flint’s water meets healthy drinking standards. Government officials are trying to cope with the public as a whole, but for the most part, the people are not having it because they truly believe the water is unhealthy to drink on a regular basis. The problem with Flint’s water is that the lead levels are much higher than most areas, and now, The Lead and Copper Rule, which dictates that amount of lead that is allowed in order for water to be considered healthy drinking water, is now under consideration for revision in response to Flint’s crisis. The full details on the crisis can be examined in the video below:

There is now pressure on the EPA to raise healthy drinking water standards, and although the The Lead and Copper Rule was not set to be revised until 2017, there is a good chance now that it could be revised much sooner. Even officials in the state of Ohio are calling for the revision of this rule, especially after the town of Sebring, OH also had a surplus of water that was not considered healthy for drinking by the current regulations. The head of the Ohio EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), Craig Butler, has actively called for the citizens of Ohio to test their own water on their own accord. He says that 60 days is far too long for a resident to go without realizing they could be consuming lead-contaminated water, and urges the local citizens to test their water today instead of waiting.

Now, the country is turning to President Obama, who is in charge of the water budget moving forward into the new fiscal year. Obama released a $4.1 trillion budget in February for the fiscal year of 2017, where he takes a stand in his case on energy and environmental friendly initiatives. $260 million of this budget is set to go toward activities that specifically boost the data and research focusing on these water issues, as well as $88 million being handed to the National Science Foundation to help them understand and increase the overall U.S. water supply.

What does this mean for us here in Connecticut, or the future of the water industry? Overall, the people in charge are responding pretty positively to the problems that have been put into focus surrounding the water crisis in Flint, which is great for our industry. This means there could be healthier drinking water standards on a national basis, which is in fact a good thing. These problems shouldn’t affect us locally, but remember, if you ever have even a doubt or concern in your mind on the quality of your water, you can get your water tested for free! Aqua Pump is here to help, with all needs, worries, or issues surrounding water here in Connecticut.